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Review: Dolica AX620B100 Aluminum 62-inch Proline Tripod and Ball Head


Review: Dolica AX620B100 Aluminum 62-inch Proline Tripod and Ball Head

Overview : Dolica's 62" Aluminum Proline Tripod is ideal for both indoor and outdoor photography. It is perfect for events, sports activity, capturing that one amazing shot. Designed for use with Point-N-Shoot cameras and/or Digital SLR cameras.

Features :
  • 62" Aluminum Proline Tripod is ideal for both indoor and outdoor photography
  • Ball head, quick release plate and integrated tripod bubble level and compass
  • Base thread: 3/8"
  • Support up to 13.2 lbs
  • Quick release leg locks and non-slip rubber feet with retractable spike
  • 90 degree vertical platform
  • Standard-wide angle, semi-wide angle, full-wide angle
  • Rapid stabile center column
  • Reversible locking center column
  • Durable flip leg locks
  • Closed cell NBR grips
  • 3-position leg angle adjustment locks
  • Counter weight hook

Quality/Usability : All photographers should at least have a tripod or a monopod. Tripods definitely come in handy when you need a steady shot whether it be a slow shutter shot, time lapse, timer shot for a group shot or just to help hold your camera.

Review: Dolica AX620B100 Aluminum 62-inch Proline Tripod and Ball Head

I purchased the tripod "used" from a website. It arrived looking brand new and was probably a open box return. For the price I paid for it, it wasn't a deal breaker and if I didn't like it, I could of just simply returned it. The Dolica Proline comes with a carry case, tripod (of course) and ball head with quick release plate. It's made of aluminum alloy so the weight of the tripod is fairly light. It weighs about 2.5 lbs and carries a max weight of about 13 lbs. I believe it's suppose to come with booklet according to the stock image above but who really reads manuals these days, especially for a tripod?

Review: Dolica AX620B100 Aluminum 62-inch Proline Tripod and Ball Head Review: Dolica AX620B100 Aluminum 62-inch Proline Tripod and Ball Head Review: Dolica AX620B100 Aluminum 62-inch Proline Tripod and Ball Head

You can set the tripod to any height that you need and the legs can be split into three angles: standard-wide angle; semi-wide angle and full-wide angle. More information on how to set these angles below.

Review: Dolica AX620B100 Aluminum 62-inch Proline Tripod and Ball Head Review: Dolica AX620B100 Aluminum 62-inch Proline Tripod and Ball Head Review: Dolica AX620B100 Aluminum 62-inch Proline Tripod and Ball Head Review: Dolica AX620B100 Aluminum 62-inch Proline Tripod and Ball Head
  1. With the tripod legs (standard-wide angle) and center column not extended, the height of the tripod is 22" with ball head (18" without).
  2. The second lowest the tripod can go with the tripod legs spread open (semi-wide angle) is 18" with Dolica ball head (14½" without). Do note that in semi-wide angle, the center column touches the floor and will need to be moved up.
  3. The lowest the tripod can go with the tripod legs spread wide open (full-wide angle) is the same height as semi-wide angle. Just like the semi-wide angle, the center column would need to be raised.
  4. With all tripod legs and center column extended, the height of the tripod is 61" with ball head (57½" without).
Review: Dolica AX620B100 Aluminum 62-inch Proline Tripod and Ball Head
Dolica Proline on semi-wide angle with Canon EOS 5D Mark III with BG-E11 grip and Herringbone Heritage leather hand strap on Manfrotto 494 ball head
There is a counter weight hook at the bottom of the center column. This allows you to add sand bags or hang your camera bag to give it additional weight to help keep the tripod sturdy. You can also unscrew the counter weight hook and invert the center column so that the camera is can now hang upside down along with your ball head. This is great if you need to get very low shots.

Review: Dolica AX620B100 Aluminum 62-inch Proline Tripod and Ball Head Review: Dolica AX620B100 Aluminum 62-inch Proline Tripod and Ball Head

The tripod legs are locked in place with quick leg flip locks. It's made of durable plastic and makes extending/retracting the tripod legs quicker than the twist locks. Lift up the quick leg flip locks to extend/retract the legs and clamp down to lock them in place. The rubber foot of each also tripod legs also has spikes. Turn the rubber foot clockwise and the spikes stick out. Turn the rubber feet counter-clockwise and the spikes are covered.

Review: Dolica AX620B100 Aluminum 62-inch Proline Tripod and Ball Head

As discussed above, to get your tripod as low as possible, there are angle locking knobs above the tripod leg. In the image above, the right side has the angle locking knobs pulled out, the left side has it pushed in. Pull these out and this allows your tripod legs to spread open. At the base of the tripod legs are two displays. One is a bubble level and the other is a compass.

Review: Dolica AX620B100 Aluminum 62-inch Proline Tripod and Ball Head

The base thread on the tripod for the ball head is 3/8". You can easily change out the ball head to a different one if you already own one or plan on upgrading to a better ball head.

Review: Dolica AX620B100 Aluminum 62-inch Proline Tripod and Ball Head
Review: Dolica AX620B100 Aluminum 62-inch Proline Tripod and Ball Head Review: Dolica AX620B100 Aluminum 62-inch Proline Tripod and Ball Head Review: Dolica AX620B100 Aluminum 62-inch Proline Tripod and Ball Head

It's great that the Dolica AX620B100 also comes with it's own ball head (Proline B100) and quick release plate. Twist the knob at the base of the ball head and this allows you to move the ball head/camera in multiple directions and angles.

To remove the quick release plate, simply push the smaller lever lock in so that it's flush with the bigger lever handle and than pull towards you. This will cause the quick release plate to pop out and the lever will stick out. Once you pop the quick release plate back in, the lever will click and lock the plate in place.

Unfortunately, this quick release plate won't work with other ball heads such as Arca-Swiss or Manfrotto's. But you can buy additional Dolica quick release plates for your other cameras as they are not that expensive.

Conclusion : Overall, the Dolica AX620B100 Aluminum 62-inch Proline Tripod and Ball Head works great as a basic starter tripod and the price is very reasonable. It's definitely sturdy enough to hold a decent amount of camera weight and the tripod does not wobble. Since it's made of aluminum, it's lightweight but it won't be as strong as carbon fiber tripods which can cost 5x-6x more than what the Proline costs.

If and when you do upgrade to a better tripod, this can be used as a backup, used as a beater or be passed down to someone who's learning photography and needs a basic starter tripod.




Manufacturer: Dolica
Site: Buy from Amazon / Buy from Adorama

Extra Quick Release Plate
Site: Buy from Amazon / Buy from Adorama


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